Samaqani Cocahq

Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier) is a Wolastoqiyik Indigenous multidisciplinary artist from Tobique First Nation. She is known for her contemporary symbolic motif storytelling through painting and designs. Samaqani describes her way of story as “dancing of the four directions” which represents emotions, dance, of spirit and of song through Wabanaki roots. Currently, Samaqani has been exploring with sharing stories through performance works because she feels that her stories need to be louder than her painting can speak. Her first play “Finding Wolastoq Voice” was part of Theatre New Brunswick’s 2017-2018 touring season. The one-person show is a theatre dance hybrid included a full body of music created by the artist. Finding Wolastoq Voice was the first Wolastoqiyik story from a First Nation playwright of New Brunswick that toured on New Brunswick and National stages. Her creative process of playwright/storytelling is a spiral movement of chant, movement, painting/drawing, writing and spoken word. Samaqani was the Indigenous Outreach Officer for the New Brunswick Arts board from 2013-2016, where she led professional development workshops for Indigenous Artists throughout the Province and till this day continues to mentor outside the artsnb role. Her passion is to learn the Wabanaki stories, share the Wabanaki stories and to help create opportunities for other Indigenous artists to share their stories in their own way and through their own words.